Magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns



March 1l, 1958 R. sTADr-:LMAAINA 2,825,991

MAGAZINE ARRANGEMENT FOR MEDIUM CALIBRE GUNS Filed Nov. 7, 1955 Y 2 sheets-sheet 1 .INVENTOR RUDOLF STADELMANN Maid. 11, 195s R STADELMANN Y. 2,825,991

1 MAGAZINE ARRANGEMENT FOR MEDIUM CALIBRE GUNS Filed Nov.. '7, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 2l 2s V22 24 Y Y Y Y Y i A A L L A A 1 \f 2Q 2\3 24 I 2 icl: N14/312 26 :NvENToR RUDOLF STADELMANN NGEMENT FOR LIBRE GUNS lvmDIUM Application November "l, 1955, Serial No. 545,456

Claims priority, application Switzerland November 11, 1954 Claims. (Cl. 42-50) The present invention relates to a magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns; The term medium cali` bre guns as used throughout thisY speciiication and claims is to be understood to refer to guns of a caliber larger than that of infantry Weapons and smaller than that of field artillery guns, a calibre of to 40 millimetres being typical for such medium calibre guns.

lt is a main object of the invention to provide a magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns wherein the cartridges are safely held and protected from being damaged when handling the loading frames thereof.

Itis another object of the invention to provide a magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns the loading frame of which is inexpensive and suitable for mass production as a consumer article.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a n magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns in which the cartridges are automatically detached from the loading frame thereof when the same is inserted into the magazine proper, and are held in the magazine proper when the said loading frame isl pulled out from the fully inserted position in the said magazine.

With these and other objects in view l provide a magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns comprising in combination: a magazine proper, a box shaped loading frame consisting of sheet metal open at one narrow side for the inserting and discharging of the cartridges, a holding strap of a comparatively pliable metal tixedly attached at one end on the said loading frame, drawn roundthe lowermost cartridge blocking the exit thereof through the said narrow open side in the said loading frame, and with its other end detachably attached on the said loading frame in such a manner as to be automatically detached therefrom when inserting the said loading trarne into the said magazine and a holder pawl articulated on the said magazine engaging behind the uppermost cartridge in the said loading frame in the fully inserted position thereof and preventing the same from emerging from the said magazine when pulling out the said loading frame therefrom, the detached end of the said holding strap then sliding round the lowermost cartridge and releasing the cartridges.

These and other objects and features of my said invention will be clearly understood from the following description of two embodiments thereof given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the loading frame;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the loading frame from below (direction A in Fig. 2);

Fig. 4 is a section of the loading frame corresponding to Fig. 2 at the beginning of the insertion into the magazine of the gun;

Fig. 5 is a section of the diagrammatically shown 25,9% Patented Mar. ll, 1958 magazine ofthe gun with the loading frame fully pushed in;

Fig, 6 shows a second embodiment of a loading frame during the insertion into the-magazine of the gun;

Fig. 7H shows a detail of the attachment of the holding strap on the tightening strap;v

Fig. 8 shows the loading frame illustrated in Fig. 6 in the position.` fully inserted into the magazine.

The loading frame illustrated in Figs. l to 5 is made of a piece of sheet metal. Its side wall 1 is adapted to the profile of the cartridges 2, as shown in Fig. 3 and is drawn round the bottoms 2a of the cartridge cases and tips of the shellsV 2b. The cartridges are thereby secured against being shifted in the direction of their longitudinal axis, and are protected to a great extent from being damaged. On the top 3 the sheet metal Wall is turned up.

U-shaped and serves as an abutment for the uppermost cartridgeZ as well as for the stifening of the side wall 1.

The abutment edge 4 for the uppermost cartridge 2' is formed inclined to the top 3, as shown in Fig. l, in order to take into account the slightly conical shape of the cartridge cases, in such a manner that the lowest cartridge 2 lies parallel to the lower edge 5 of the loading frame.

The cartridges 2 inserted into the loading frame from the open underside are restrained by a holder strap 6 of soft sheet metal from being shifted transversely of their longitudinal axis. The saine is attached at theA narrow top 3 by means of a screw 7. It runs, as will beseen in Figs. l and 2, approximately in the vicinity of the centre of gravity of the cartridges on the side opposite the side wall 1 right down to the lowerrnost cartridge 2, round the same, and upward a short distance, on the inside of the side wall 1. The end 6a of the strap is then drawn through a slot 8 in the side wall 1, and is bent downwardly at a small radius about the lower edge of the slot.

On the narrow top 3 there is moreover arranged a carrier grip 9, in order to facilitate the lifting of the loader frame from the ammunition chest and its being transported to the gun. The grip 9 is conveniently made detachably in order that it does not cucumber unnecessarily any space in the ammunition chest, and that it can be accommodated for example between the individual loader frames.

When carrying the filled loading frame on the grip 9 the whole weight of the cartidges rests on the holder strap 6. The end 6a of the strap which is sharply turned up in the slot 8 offers, however, sufficient security against the cartridges dropping out and forms an inexpensive and simple means of attachment.

Fig. 4 shows the process at the beginning of the insertion of the filled loading frame into the magazine 1i) of the gun. The end 6a of the strap which is bent downwardly when being inserted into the magazine is turned up by the slightly chamfered upper edge 11 of the magazine, and as shown in Fig. 5 comes to lie between the side wall l and the magazine. On the magazine moreover a pawl 13 is mounted pivotally about a pin 12, which pawl is biased by a coiled spring 14 permanently into a locking position shown in Fig. 5, in which it prevents the cartridge contained in the magazine from coming out.

The loading procedure of the magazine is carried out as follows: the lilled loading frame is inserted into the magazine 1li and is completely pushed in. Thereby on the one hand the end 6a of the holder strap 6 is turned up by the edge 11 of the wall of the magazine, and on the other hand the pawl 13 is tilted out of its locking position against the bias of the spring. When the loading frame is completely inserted into the magazine (see Fig. 5) the spring 14 forces the pawl 13 again into its locking position. The loading frame can then be pulled out of the magazine by the grip 9, the pawl 13 preventing the cartridges 2 from likewise sliding out of the magazine. The end 6a of the holder strap 6 slips through the slot 8 and round the lowermost cartridge 2" when pulling the empty loading frame out. It is of course possible to arrange the slot S in the side wall 1 of the loading frame at a dierent position, for example between the second and third cartridge. Then the holder strap is detached only when the loading frame has been pushed deeper into the magazine.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the holder strap, the assembly of the loading frame proper corresponding however to the embodiment described hereinbefore. The holder strap 2l is in this case attached for example by spot welding to the lower end of the side wall l, and is drawn round the lowermost cartridge 2". Into its end pointing upwardly a slot 23 is punched, as shown in Fig. 7, into which engages a rivet xed to a tightening strap 24. This tightening strap 2li is for example made of steel and is connected to a tightening lock which is mounted pivotally on a pin 26 xed to the top 3 of the loading frame. The slot 23 has on its portion directed towards the end of the strap 21 a smaller width than on the opposite side so that the head of the rivet 22 can disengage itself from the slot 23 only when the tightening strap, 24 is relaxed. The tightening lock 2S projects in the tensioned state beyond the side wall 1 of the loading frame (see Fig. 6) so that it is knocked open, when the latter is pushed into the magazine, by the edge lll thereof. The tightening strap 24 is thereby pushed downwardly and the head of the rivet 22 slides out of the slot 23. The loading frame can then be pulled out of the magazine by the grip, while the pawl i3 retains the cartridges.

While I have described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings what may be considered typical and particularly useful embodiments of my said invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular details and dimensions described and illustrated, for obvious modications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns comprising in combination, a magazine, a box shaped loading frame open at one side for the inserting and discharging of cartridges, a holding strap lixedly attached at one end on said loading frame, drawn round the lowermost cartridge blocking the exit thereof through said open side in said loading frame and having its other end detachably attached on said loading frame so as to be automatically detached therefrom when inserting said loading frame into said magazine, and a holder pawl pivoted on said magazine engaging behind the uppermost cartridge in said loading frame in the fully inserted position thereof and preventing the said uppermost cartridge from emerging from said magazine when pulling out said loading frame therefrom, the detached end of said holding strap then sliding round the lowermost cartridge and releasing the cartridges.

2. A magazine arrangement as claimed in claim l, wherein for automatically detachable connection the free end of said holding strap is drawn through a slot in a side of said loading frame and is turned downwardly at a small angle thereto so as to be engaged by the upper edge of said magazine and be turned up thereby, when said loading frame is pushed into said magazine.

3. A magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns comprising in combination a magazine, a box shaped loading trame having one side open for the insertion and discharging of cartridges, a holding strap fxedly attached at one end to said loading frame, said holding strap having a slot shaped opening therein, a tightening strap, a rivet fixed to said tightening strap and engaging in said aperture of said holding strap and a tightening lock pivoted to said magazine connected to the other end of said tightening strap, said tightening lock upon the insertion of said frame into said magazine being engaged by the upper edge of said magazine so as to be turned from locking position into release position whereby said rivet on said tightening strap is released from said aperture in said holding strap so as to release said holding strap.

4. A magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns comprising in combination a magazine, a sheet metal box shaped loading frame open at one side for the insertion and discharging of cartridges, a holding strap of a comparatively pliable metal txedly attached at one end on said loading frame, drawn around the lowermost cartridge blocking the exit thereof through said open'side in said loading frame and having its other end detachably attached on said loading frame so as to be automatically detached therefrom when inserting said loading frame into said magazine and a holder pawl pivoted on said magazine engaging behind the uppermost cartridge in said loading frame in the fully inserted position thereof and preventing the cartridges in said holding frame from emerging from said magazine when pulling out said loading frame therefrom, the detached end of said holding strap then sliding round the lowermost cartridge and releasing the cartridges.

5. A magazine arrangement for medium calibre guns comprising in combination a magazine, a sheet metal box shaped loading frame open at one side for the insertion and discharging of cartridges, a holding strap of a comparatively pliable metal xedly attached at one end on said loading frame, drawn around the lowermost cartridge blocking the exit thereof through said open side in said loading frame and having its other end detachably attached on said loading frame so as to bc automatically detached therefrom when inserting said loading frame into said magazine and means on said magazine engaging behind the uppermost cartridge in said loading frame in the fully inserted position thereof and preventing the said uppermost cartridge from emerging from said magazine when pulling out said loading frame therefrom, the detached end of said holding strap then sliding round the lowermost cartridge and releasing the cartridges.

No references cited. 

